Whereas, all too many youngsters are born with congenital heart defects, and

Whereas, for this dreaded early childhood disease, medical science has achieved great strides, during the last quarter century, in developing new surgical remedies that offer these youngsters a chance at a normal and productive life, and

Whereas, in order for afflicted children to be promptly and properly treated, it is imperative that, at the first sign of symptoms, parents immediately arrange for cardiological examinations that can identify congenital heart defects, and

Whereas, treatment of congenital heart defects when a child is very young will reduce the number of premature deaths among otherwise healthy adults attributed to congenital heart disease, and

Whereas, in order to provide support to each other, and to educate the public regarding the realities of childhood congenital heart disease, the mothers and fathers of these youngsters are involved in an organization appropriately known as Parents in Heart to Heart, and

Whereas, on February 14, a day that focuses on matters of the heart, Parents in Heart to Heart, the Vermont chapter of the American Heart Association, medical specialists in cardiology, and the Vermont Department of Health are teaming together in a very special way to observe A Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day, an event intended to increase public awareness concerning the perils of congenital heart defects and the continuously evolving treatments for this dreaded threat to promising new lives, and

Whereas, it is to everyone’s benefit that information regarding congenital heart disease be spread as broadly as possible, especially among parents of young children, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly, recognizing the importance of public education on matters relating to congenital heart disease, designates February 14th as A Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day, and urges Vermonters to avail themselves of the public education opportunities that will be associated with this event, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send copies of this resolution to Professor Cathy M. Frey of Barre Town, Julianne Nickerson of Burlington, Brenda Fife, RN BSN of Burlington, Nancy Drucker, MD of Burlington, Scott Yeager, MD of Burlington, Jo Yoder, Parent to Parent of Vermont and Sheri Turner of Bridgewater, Ma.